Lauren Philander

at Work

During my internship programme with B360 I worked at ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften) in Waedenswil, Switzerland. ZHAW is a university of applied sciences which aims to educate students both in terms of theory and practical skills. This enables graduate students to properly integrate into the workplace. The university is comprised of 8 schools: Applied Linguistics, Applied Psychology, Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering, Engineering, Health Professions, Life Sciences and Facility Management, Management and Law, and Social Work.

I mainly worked in the food microbiology and molecular biology departments. This was a huge privilege as molecular biology is not typically practiced in Namibia due to lack of resources. I worked on three main projects independently. The first project was based on the use of protective bacterial cultures to inhibit the growth of other malicious bacteria, such as Listeria. This was especially interesting due to the recent outbreak of Listeriosis in South Africa (neighbouring Namibia) the previous year. The second project revolved around finding the best method to extract DNA from yeasts with the use of different DNA extraction kits and additional modifications. The last project involved the identification of different forms of fungi.

This internship has allowed me to interlink the theoretic knowledge of molecular biology I have gained in Namibia with the practical skills I have acquired in Switzerland. The atmosphere in my workplace was very positive and encouraging. I have learnt a lot from my colleagues and mentors both on professional and personal levels.

My Swiss host family

I had one main host family, the Sievers, and one bridging family, the Gantenbeins. Both of these families were a joy to be around. They were very accommodating, encouraging and supportive during my times of need. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given to share this experience with both families. They have taught me a lot about Swiss culture, Swiss mountains, food and traditions. It was a pleasure getting to know all of them.

Highlights and challenges in Switzerland

The highlight of my experience in Switzerland was visiting the mountains: Säntis, Pilatus and Weisshorn. Another highlight was the food. Switzerland has taught me the importance of good quality cheese and chocolate. I also enjoyed driving through small Swiss towns with historical wooden houses decorated with bright flowers at their windows. They were quite beautiful with much different architecture than that of Namibia. The summer weather in Switzerland was also something to appreciate with the sun rising at 6 a.m. and setting at 8 p.m. I was officially able to experience the longest days of my life. The transport system was a challenge to use at first, but it got easier with time. Unfortunately, sleeping on the train is not recommended when you have to switch to a different train at the next station. Fortunately, you are able to explore new towns and cities this way. As Switzerland is surrounded by many other countries and cultures, I was able to travel to other countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein and even the Netherlands.

My future plans

I plan to graduate with my honour’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science and to further my education with a specialization in food safety science. I also aim to contribute to the improvement of food safety in Namibia.

Personal message

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong it is until it’s put in hot water.” Never underestimate yourself or your abilities.